Official: Man killed in I-85 crash near state line

Published: Friday, January 24, 2014 at 11:23 AM.

A man was killed in an Interstate 85 crash late Thursday just south of the state line, according to authorities.

Authorities said the crash happened in the southbound lanes at about 9:40 p.m.

Brannon Keith Harrison, 38, of Gaffney, was killed, said Dennis Fowler, the coroner in Cherokee County, S.C.

"Mr. Harrison was one of two people traveling in a 2012 Dodge Ram pick-up truck that struck a car in the rear at what is believed to have been a high rate of speed about 300 feet north of Exit 102,” Fowler said in a prepared statement. “Following impact, the pick-up truck overturned, ejecting its occupants before coming to rest on top of the median cable barrier. Harrison's body was found in the roadway while the other occupant was found in the median. Neither were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash.”

Fowler said Harrison sustained head and body trauma and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The other truck passenger was airlifted from the scene to Spartanburg Regional Medical Center. The driver of the car was treated at Spartanburg Regional for non-life threatening injuries, Fowler said.

"We are still trying to determine who was driving the pick-up truck at the time of the crash,” Fowler said. “An autopsy has been scheduled for Friday to assist with the investigation that is ongoing."

-- staff reports

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A man was killed in an Interstate 85 crash late Thursday just south of the state line, according to authorities.

Authorities said the crash happened in the southbound lanes at about 9:40 p.m.

Brannon Keith Harrison, 38, of Gaffney, was killed, said Dennis Fowler, the coroner in Cherokee County, S.C.

"Mr. Harrison was one of two people traveling in a 2012 Dodge Ram pick-up truck that struck a car in the rear at what is believed to have been a high rate of speed about 300 feet north of Exit 102,” Fowler said in a prepared statement. “Following impact, the pick-up truck overturned, ejecting its occupants before coming to rest on top of the median cable barrier. Harrison's body was found in the roadway while the other occupant was found in the median. Neither were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash.”

Fowler said Harrison sustained head and body trauma and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The other truck passenger was airlifted from the scene to Spartanburg Regional Medical Center. The driver of the car was treated at Spartanburg Regional for non-life threatening injuries, Fowler said.

"We are still trying to determine who was driving the pick-up truck at the time of the crash,” Fowler said. “An autopsy has been scheduled for Friday to assist with the investigation that is ongoing."